My Step by Step Guide to Writing a Research Paper

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Research Paper

1. Understand the Instructions

   • Read through the assignment instructions carefully to grasp what is required.
   • Ensure you understand the assignment fully to avoid any misunderstandings later on.

2. Choose a Topic

   • Select a topic that interests you and ensure there is enough information available on it.
   • Conduct superficial research on a couple of topics before making a final decision.

3. Build a Basic Outline

   • Create a basic outline for your paper, listing sections and key points.
   • The outline doesn't need to be detailed at this stage; it will evolve as you conduct more research.

4. Make a List of Relevant Sources

   • Utilize online resources like Google Scholar or library portals to gather studies and articles for your research.
   • Compile a comprehensive list of sources that might be relevant to your paper.

5. Read Research and Make Notes

   • Read through the selected studies and articles, taking notes as you go.
   • Keep track of important quotes, data, arguments, and findings in a spreadsheet for easy reference.

6. Categorize Highlights by Outline Section or Topic

   • Organize your notes by mapping them back to your outline sections.
   • Create categories and subcategories to group similar information together.

7. Make Decisions on Strongest Points

   • Use tools like mind maps to identify the most compelling arguments for your paper.
   • Visualize how ideas are related to each other to determine the key points to include.

8. Fill an Outline with Your Research

   • Enhance your outline with information from your research, supporting your arguments with data and quotes.
   • Structuring your outline with research details can streamline the writing process.

9. Work off Your Detailed Outline

   • Use your detailed outline or reference spreadsheet to start writing your draft.
   • Estimate about one hour per double-spaced page for writing, ensuring a smooth flow of information.

10. Edit Paper and Fix APA

    • Take a break before editing to refresh your mind.
    • Edit for grammar, sentence structure, and APA formatting.
    • Use a reference spreadsheet for citations and alphabetize them before adding to your paper.

11. Find a Second Reader

    • Seek feedback from a writing advisor or someone whose opinion you value.
    • Have them review your paper for clarity and correctness.

12. Make Final Edits and Submit

    • Implement suggestions from your second reader if they enhance your paper.
    • Give your paper a final read-through before submission.

By following these steps, you can effectively plan, research, and write a well-structured research paper. Remember to allocate ample time for each stage and seek feedback to improve the quality of your work.